Mashal: Palestinians won't abandon their rights

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In response to the US plan of settling the Palestinian refugees in other countries permanently, senior Hamas official, Khaled Mashal, has noted that: “We would never abandon our rights.”

According to IRIB, the Head of the Political Bureau of the Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement, Hamas, Khaled Mashal, in the nationwide congress of the Popular Front of the Liberation of Palestine held in Yarmouk refugee camp in Damascus on Wednesday said the people of Palestine would never abandon their rights especially the right to return to their homeland.

In the ceremony held in the presence a number of Palestinian combatant groups and several leading cultural and religious figures in Syria, Mashal added that the Palestinians would continue resistance.

The Hamas official said the Israeli regime cannot declare war against the region or even against Gaza because it knows well that we will turn Gaza into the graveyard of the Zionist forces.

World Bank gives 48-hour ultimatum to Pakistan

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JNN 27.05.10

KARACHI: Pakistan received a stern 48-hour deadline to take tough actions that include hiking of electricity tariffs by six per cent and implementation of the Value Added Tax (VAT) from July 1. On failure to do so, Pakistan will not receive $300 million under the poverty reduction support credit, the World Bank (WB) said.

If Pakistan succeessfully implements the two conditions, the approval of $300 million will be made during the World Bank meeting which is to take place on June 29 in Washington.

According to sources, authorities were alarmed and clueless about how to fulfill the conditions till May 27.

Authorities in Islamabad are aware that even if the International Monetary Fund (IMF) allowed Pakistan not to impose VAT in its budget, World Bank would show stiff resistance in providing any aid, as VAT is its brainchild.

The World Bank has been assistng Pakistan in preparations to introduce the VAT law to Pakistan during the past one year. However, there has been hue and cry from the business communities across Pakistan against the imposition of VAT

Iran FTZ exports rise 36-fold

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JNN 27.05.10 Iranian Commerce Minister Mehdi Ghazanfari says exports from the country’s free trade zones (FTZ’s) have grown 36-fold over the past few years.
He said the role of free zones in the nation’s economy needs to be revisited.
“There are two different standpoints on free zones”, Ghazanfari was quoted by IRNA as telling reporters.
“In one point of view, free zones are regarded as a launch pad for exports; from the other vantage point, free zones are seen as playing a role in re-exporting goods.”
Based on the second viewpoint, some countries boost the inflow of investment funds by rendering proper commercial services, and re-export Iranian commodities to other nations around the world, a role that Iranian free zones are deprived of, the commerce minister added.

He underlined Iranian free zones should play a more active role in re-exporting goods

Pakistan lifts ban on YouTube

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JNN 27.05.10 ISLAMABAD: Pakistan unblocked popular video sharing website YouTube late Wednesday after banning it in the wake of public outrage over “blasphemous” content.

“YouTube has been unblocked, but the links to sacrilegious content would remain inaccessible inPakistan,” Khurram Mehran, Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) told AFP.

Earlier interior minister Rehman Malik said Pakistan was to lift a ban on Facebook and YouTube in the next few days.

The PTA banned access to Facebook and YouTube and other links, and restricted access to Wikipedia, last week over what it called “growing sacrilegious content”.

Malik said Wednesday pages containing blasphemous material would remain blocked but the ban on popular sites including Facebook and YouTube would be lifted in the next few days.

“We discussed this matter in the cabinet meeting today. I told my colleagues that blocking the websites was not the right thing,” Malik told AFP.

“I said that only particular pages that contain blasphemous material should be blocked, not the entire website,” said Malik, adding that in next few days both Facebook and YouTube would be unblocked.

A government statement later said the federal cabinet “strongly condemned” the sketches of Prophet Mohammed and ordered that such material should not be accessible in Pakistanover the Internet.

“The cabinet strongly condemned the blasphemous caricatures on a specific website and directed the Ministry of IT (Information Technology) to ensure that such blasphemous material is not allowed to appear on the Internet in Pakistan.”

When a Facebook user decided to organise an “Everyone Draw Mohammed Day” competition to promote “freedom of expression”, it sparked a major backlash among Islamic activists in the South Asian country of 170 million.

Islam strictly prohibits the depiction of any prophet as blasphemous and the row sparked comparison with protests across the Muslim world over the publication of satirical cartoons of Mohammed in European newspapers in 2006.

Several thousand Pakistanis took to the streets at the behest of religious groups to protest.

In the wake of the Prophet Mohammed controversy, Pakistan blocked hundreds of web pages to limit access to “blasphemous” material, banning access to US-based Facebook and YouTube — the two most popular websites in the country.

A court in the eastern city of Lahore ordered the block on Facebook until at least May 31, when it is scheduled to hear a petition from Islamic lawyers.

Although none of the protests has mobilised the masses, sporadic demonstrators have continued to vent anger in Karachi and other cities.

Pakistan also briefly banned YouTube in February 2008 in a similar protest against “blasphemous” cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed

Mosque at Ground Zero (9 11 World Trade Center site )gains 1st approval

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JNN 27.05.10 After a heated four-hour meeting, a New York community board has endorsed a plan to build a mosque and Islamic cultural center close to Ground Zero of the World Trade Center attack.

Community Board 1, which represents the area of lower Manhattan that includes Ground Zero, voted 29 to 1 on Tuesday to back the proposal, with 10 abstentions, the Associated Press reported.

Supporters, including Manhattan borough president Scott Stringer, say the proposed center, called Cordoba House, would show tolerance for all religious groups and the space would encourage a moderate interpretation of Islam.

By supporting the multi-faith community and cultural center, the board “sent a clear message that our city is one that promotes diversity and tolerance,” Stringer said in a statement, AP reported.

However, some critics of the plan consider it to be an affront to the victims of the attack to build a Muslim religious space so close to Ground Zero and have said it would be a monument to the terror attacks.

“The pain never goes away,” C. Lee Hanson, 77, whose son Peter was killed in the attacks told The New York Times. “When I look over there and I see a mosque, it’s going to hurt. Build it someplace else.”

The vote, although only a recommendation, is seen as an important barometer of community sentiment since the organization wishing to build the mosque must also obtain approval from the Landmarks Preservation committee because the building it has bought and intends to modify was built in the 1850s and is under consideration to be classified as a “historic landmark.”

Amnesty International: Israel Violates Human Rights Each Day

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Secretary of Amnesty International’s branch in Germany, Monika Lueke, detailing the annual report on the state of human rights around the world lashed out on Wednesday at the Israeli regime’s ongoing human rights violations. Monika Lueke stressed: “There are daily human rights violations in Israel.”

According to IRNA, speaking at a press conference in Berlin Monika Lueke said the Zionist regime’s siege of Gaza is a clear example of violation of human rights.

She singled out at least 27 Palestinians, who lost their lives last year, because they could not receive timely medical treatment due to the blockade of Gaza.

Lueke pointed out that 1.5 million Gaza-based Palestinians have been cut off from vital food supplies and 8,000 North Gazans have no access to water.

Referring to the Zionists’ attacks on Gaza in 2008-2009 Gaza war, Lueke stressed that Israeli military attacks against UN institutions, schools and hospitals in the region constituted a clear violation of humanitarian laws of war.

Meanwhile, the Amnesty International official hailed the judge Richard Goldstone designated by the United Nations for his report highlighting Israeli war crimes during the war in Gaza.

The 600-page UN report, authored by South African Judge Richard Goldstone, said Israel had deliberately used disproportionate force against Palestinian civilians, and had employed weapons such as white phosphorous munitions that should not be used in residential areas.

The Zionist regime did not cooperate with Goldstone’s investigation, alleging it was ordered by a UN body with an anti-Israel bias.

Yemen releases 200 Shia Houthi fighters

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The Yemeni government has released about 300 detainees belonging to the Shia Houthi fighters in the north and separatists in the south of the country.
Official Saba news agency reported Tuesday that 200 Shia Houthi fighters detained in Sa’ada Province and 98 separatists arrested “for participation in unrest in certain provinces of the south” had been released.
The releases came as part of an amnesty initiative introduced by Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh on Friday. The initiative is expected to apply to a total of 800 southerners and 2,000 fighters in the north, AFP reported.
The president, who has called on “all those released to be good citizens and to respect the constitution and law” had previously proposed the creation of a unity government which includes opposition parties.
The Shia Houthis accuse the government of corruption and discrimination against the Shia minorities in the north, while Yemen’s Socialist Party has also been struggling to re-establish south Yemen as an independent state.
The conflict between the Yemeni government and the Shia Houthis peaked last November when Saudi Arabia joined forces with Sana’a to launch a major crackdown on the Shia fighters.
However, Yemen has been experiencing relative peace since the government and the Shia Houthis signed a ceasefire in February.

The Yemeni government has released about 300 detainees belonging to the Shia Houthi fighters in the north and separatists in the south of the country. Official Saba news agency reported Tuesday that 200 Shia Houthi fighters detained in Sa’ada Province and 98 separatists arrested “for participation in unrest in certain provinces of the south” had been released. The releases came as part of an amnesty initiative introduced by Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh on Friday. The initiative is expected to apply to a total of 800 southerners and 2,000 fighters in the north, AFP reported.The president, who has called on “all those released to be good citizens and to respect the constitution and law” had previously proposed the creation of a unity government which includes opposition parties. The Shia Houthis accuse the government of corruption and discrimination against the Shia minorities in the north, while Yemen’s Socialist Party has also been struggling to re-establish south Yemen as an independent state. The conflict between the Yemeni government and the Shia Houthis peaked last November when Saudi Arabia joined forces with Sana’a to launch a major crackdown on the Shia fighters. However, Yemen has been experiencing relative peace since the government and the Shia Houthis signed a ceasefire in February.

Pakistan; Shia community starts Long March towards Quetta on 4th July

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(JNN) News Agency , The leaders of Pakistani Shia Community on Sunday warned that they would start a Long-March towards Quetta from across the country and besiege the Governor and Chief Minister house on July 4th, if their demands would not fulfill.

Addressing the meeting and protest rally organized by Shohda-e-Balochistan Organizing Committee to condemn the genocide of Shia Muslims in Balochistan, Tehreek-e-Jaffaria Chief Allama Syed Sajid Ali Naqvi, Majlis-e-Wahdat Muslimeen Secretary General Maulana Raja Nasir Abbas, Allama Ameen Shaheedi, PML-Q leader Marvi Memoon, Maulana Afzal Haideri, Shia Conference Balochistan leader Ashraf Zaidi and others have condemned the genocide of Shia Muslims in Balochistan.

The leaders pointed out that law and order situation in Balochistan was out of control from the provincial government and demanded of the federal government to immediately sack the Balochistan Government over their failure to control the genocide of Shia Muslims in Balochistan Province.

Shia leaders demanded of the government to take stern action against perpetrators involved in the incidents of target killings of Shia Muslims in Balochistan especially in Quetta and Mastung.

They warned that Shia community would march towards Quetta and besiege the Governor and Chief minister house on 4th July, If the government will not taken the action against the terrorists and not fulfill the demands of Shia community till June 20th.

Allama syed Sajid Ali naqvi said that conspiracies had been hatched from the very beginning against the Shia community, while act of barbarism against shia community in Quetta and Mastung were highly condemnable.

He said that Shia c ommunity was played a significant role in development of Pakistan and had never become a part of any conspiracy hatched against the country.

He said that they had raised voice against the incidents of target killing on every platform but the incidents of target killing were still on the rise and government was silent over  the genocide of Shia Muslims in Pakistan.

He warned that we could stop the other way of protest, if the target killings of Shia people would not stopped.

Majlis-e-Wahdat-e-Muslimeen Leader Allama Raja Nasir Abbas said that those who violated the constitution of the country should be brought to justice and added that the rulers had badly failed to ensure the safety and security of the people.

“Agent s of Israel, India and Uniuted States were started the conspiracies to harm Pakistan, but we will foil their evil designs against the country,he added.

Criticising the Balochistan Government, Raja Nasir Abbas said that Balochstian Government was miserably failed to provide security to the people particularly Shia community and added that if action was not taken against the terrorists  and their patrons involved in the target killings of Shia community till June 20, then the people belonging to Shia community from across the country would initiate  long march towards Quetta and besiege the Governor and chief Minister house on 4th July.

The participants of the both meetings also adopt many resolutions seeking termination of Balochistan Government forthwith and immediate arrest of perpetrators and action against banned outfits.

Sayyed Nasrallah: Israeli bomb us, we bomb them, Israeli kill us, we kill them

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*** Sayyed Nasrallah: We believe we’ll achieve victory in next war and we’d change the face of the region
*** Sayyed Nasrallah: We don’t want war but we’re not scared of it
*** Sayyed Nasrallah: It is not likely Israel would wage a war against Lebanon
*** Sayyed Nasrallah: We are the ones who dictated the timing, scenario, and conditions for the enemy’s defeat and escape from Lebanon
*** Sayyed Nasrallah: Israel used to wage wars knowing that its home front was safe but this has ended in the wake of the 2006 war
*** Sayyed Nasrallah: In Any Next War, Only Israelis Fleeing From Occupied Palestine May Be Safe.                                                                                                     *** Sayyed Nasrallah: We believe we’ll achieve victory in next war and we’d change the face of the region
*** Sayyed Nasrallah: We don’t want war but we’re not scared of it
*** Sayyed Nasrallah: It is not likely Israel would wage a war against Lebanon
*** Sayyed Nasrallah: We are the ones who dictated the timing, scenario, and conditions for the enemy’s defeat and escape from Lebanon
*** Sayyed Nasrallah: Israel used to wage wars knowing that its home front was safe but this has ended in the wake of the 2006 war
*** Sayyed Nasrallah: In Any Next War, Only Israelis Fleeing From Occupied Palestine May Be Safe (JNN) News Agency , Hezbollah marked the tenth anniversary of the Resistance and Liberation Day Tuesday at the Sayyed Al-Shouhada compound in Beirut’s southern suburb. Official, religious, military, and popular figures attended the ceremony in which Hezbollah Secretary General Sayyed Hasan Nasrallah delivered a speech for the occasion and tackled recent developments in Lebanon and the region.

The Hezbollah chief set a new formula that will be adopted in any new war with Israel saying that Hezbollah will attack Israel-bound ships if the Zionist entity imposed a sea blockade on Lebanon. “When the world will witness how these ships will be destroyed in Palestine’s regional water nobody will dare to go there just as they will block (others) from coming to our coasts,” his eminence told thousands of supporters.

Sayyed Nasrallah’s comments came amid a five-day drill in Israel- dubbed “Turning Point 4”- which was launched on Sunday to test the home front  preparedness against possible missile strikes in any future war.

At the beginning of his speech, Sayyed Nasrallah paid tribute to the martyrs “who sacrificed their lives to realize this victory, namely Sayyed Abbas Mousawi, Sheikh Ragheb Harb, and Hajj Imad Moghniyeh.”  His eminence also thanked south Lebanon residents “who took part in municipal elections despite of the simultaneous Israeli maneuvers.” Iwould like to thank all the Lebanese who fulfilled the three-of-four phases of the elections and I ask Almighty Allah that the fourth round due Sunday in the north would smoothly,” his eminence said.

THEY SAW WITH THEY OWN EYES WHAT THEY USED TO RIDICULE
The Hezbollah chief divided his discourse into three parts: “The conflict with the enemy, the future, and position and formula which I am committed to and which will be added to the many formulae of confrontation with the enemy.”
Sayyed Nsrallah recalled that the 1982 Israeli invasion of Lebanon was part of a broader US-Israeli scheme. “In 2000, this scheme was thwarted. However they always have other schemes and they will go on plotting until they fall.”
He said that one of the plots was to build Israeli settlements in south Lebanon, “but thanks to the martyrs and particularly the self sacrifice martyrs, this never materialized. We all remember how the first year of the occupation was rife with Jihadi operations against the occupation in several regions and by more than one party and movement.”

The S.G. also reminded how some sides in Lebanon and the Arab world used to ridicule Hezbollah as of 1982 when its leaders spoke about the victory to come. “When Sayyed Moussawi said in 1991 that Israel has fallen and that it will move out of Lebanon humiliated, some used to mock at him. But the year 2000 came and the resounding victory came along, and now I ask all the Lebanese and the entire world: Who would have thought that Israel would withdraw from Lebanon humiliated? What was mocked by many has happened for real and all of you saw it.”

Sayyed Nasrallah said that some Arabs had been colluding against Lebanon before the 2000 pullout. “May 26 is another day and another different shape of the region. The Zionists realized this and Arab leaders as well. Israel revealed that some Arab official sides contacted Israeli counterparts to urge the Zionist entity not to withdraw with conditions. This is not strange because we know that in 2006, some Arabs contacted Israel and urged them not to stop the war so that Hezbollah and Lebanon would not come out victorious.”
ARMY-PEOPLE-RESISTANCE FORMULA YIELDED VICTORY
The Secretary General stressed that the formula that yielded victory was “the army, the people, and the resistance.” He said that Israel’s home front that used to be safe in most of the post wars, was no longer safe. “This era has ended,” his eminence stressed. “Today the Israelis, through their maneuvers, are trying to pacify their home front by trying to convince the people that they are strong and ready for any new war. Other argue and criticize the drills saying: Let’s see what the maneuvers will result in when rocket shower all of occupied Palestine.”

Sayyed Nasrallah explained that the Scud Missile transfer, “which I don’t deny or confirm,” was raised so the US Congress pays Israel $250 million for their ‘Iron Dome’ which is yet to be proven feasible. Others believe that the Israelis are afraid to wage war and they are concerned about its outcome. This is why the Israeli rhetoric reflects a tendency to calm things down in the north.”
“Israel used to wage wars knowing that its home front was safe. This has ended in the wake of the 2006 war. We have our home front and they have theirs. They bomb us, we bomb them. They kill us, we kill them. This is their strategic weakness today,” his eminence said.
EVEN CLINTON WARNED ISRAEL ABOUT ITS FUTURE
As for “the future”, Sayyed Nasrallah’s second point, the Hezbollah chief cited US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s speech at the AIPAC conference to address the Israelis on the one hand, and some Lebanese journalists who are still questioning the feasibility of the resistance facing Israel.

“Clinton said: In the face of these unforgiving dynamics of demography, ideology, and technology, it becomes impossible to entrust our hopes for Israel’s future in today’s status quo. These challenges cannot be ignored or wished away. Only by choosing a new path can Israel make the progress it deserves to ensure that their children are able to see a future of peace, and only by having a partner willing to participate with them will the Palestinians be able to see the same future. We cannot be blind to the political implications of continued conflict. There is today truly a struggle, maybe for the first time, between those in the region who accept peace and coexistence with Israel and those who reject it and seek only continued violence. The status quo strengthens the rejectionists who claim peace is impossible, and it weakens those who would accept coexistence. That does not serve Israel’s interests or our own. Those willing to negotiate need to be able to show results for their efforts,” Sayyed Nasrallah read.

His eminence continued to quote Clinton as she spoke about technology. “She finally says: we must recognize that the ever-evolving technology of war is making it harder to guarantee Israel’s security. For six decades, Israelis have guarded their borders vigilantly. But advances in rocket technology mean that Israeli families are now at risk far from those borders.” Sayyed Nasrallah elaborated by saying that manufacturing and acquiring missiles was not a complex process as it used to be. “It is not even costly; however it requires a political decision. Their patriots and their Iron Dome will not be effective against our missiles. The technological development today makes every town and every settlement within the Zionist entity under threat; this is what the Israelis cannot tolerate. Clinton was trying to puch the Israelis into striking a deal or a settlement. I believe that their arrogance and racism will push them into the abyss. Therefore, to those who claim they are intellectuals I tell them: that was Clinton, the US Secretary of State speaking. Those were the Americans telling the Israelis that if you don’t help us to make a settlement, a Jewish state will never exist in the future and you will never find anyone to strike a deal with you. We believe in the future that Clinton was preaching about.”
ISRAEL-BOUND SHIPS WILL BE ATTACKED IF LEBANESE PORTS WE BESIEGED IN ANY FUTURE WAR
Sayyed Nasrallah assessed the current situation based on the May, 2000 withdrawal.
“We are committed to the following position: After trusting in Allah, we have to be convinced that we are protecting our country with the will of our people and our national determination. The Lebanese government is making all necessary contacts to push away any danger Lebanon might be under. This is good and we agree with this, however, we should not bargain on this. The real bargain is on our national capability to defend and confront in the battlefield.”

The Hezbollah Secretary General concluded his discourse with the new equation that the resistance will be committed to. “We will tell the Israelis to be afraid of us. If the war, which we do not want, yet we are not scared of broke out, it will change the face of this region – and Clinton agrees with me. We previously said that the Israeli home front has become exposed and vulnerable and we know everything about it, therefore we know where to strike. In 2006, and even before this date, there were times when the Israelis besiege our shores. Israeli vessels used to deploy in Lebanese waters and besiege our shore; so today we add the sea to the terrain. I am not announcing that we possess a new weapon, but in 2006 we destroyed the Saar 5 vessel. What I am saying is that if you besiege our shore and our ports in any coming war, all of your military and commercial ships heading to Palestine will be under the fire of the Islamic Resistance across the Mediterranean. We are talking about the Mediterranean but we have not mentioned the Red Sea yet. We are determined to enter this new domain God willing. No one will dare sail to any port in occupied Palestine. However, if a ship with Israelis on board was leaving occupied Palestine, we might let it pass. They military power used to scare others, but not today because our hearts are as solid as a rock. Let us flip the picture around. Let us make Israel afraid and then seek for someone to reassure it. For those who are still calling for disarming the resistance I tell them that this rhetoric is behind our backs because it is useless. We shall confront the next war, we shall win and we shall change the face of this region,” Sayyed Nasrallah concluded.

Lebanon warns US of more violence

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Lebanon warned the US over the dragging Middle East peace process amid growing skepticism about Washington’s supposed mediation between the oppressed Palestinians and the illegal Zionist entity.

According to AP, on his first White House visit as Lebanese Premier, Sa’d Hariri told US president Barack Obama on Monday that the “clock is ticking … against all those who believe in a just peace.”

Hariri warned Obama of a “pervasive frustration and skepticism” in the Muslim world regarding the issue and that failure in securing a peace agreement will “nurture more extremism and give birth to new forms of violence.”

He said “This poses great dangers to everyone in the Middle East and to the world at large.”

Meanwhile, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad said the Obama regime has failed to make any progress in the Middle East peace process.

Hamas, Islamic Jihad boycott West Bank elections

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Major Palestinian factions who are in charge of the elected government in the Gaza Strip have decided to boycott local elections in the West Bank due in July, calling them unwarranted and saying the polls will only deepen divisions among Palestinians.

Hamas spokesman Mushir al-Masri told Press TV on Monday.

“The vote will worsen the internal Palestinian divide and we are totally against it because it is unconstitutional.”

He said “The results of the municipal elections will lack credibility and integrity and it will be fraudulent as Fatah will do all it can to secure its victory.”

Ahmed al-Mudallal, a senior Islamic Jihad member, also underscored his resistance movement’s opposition to the unconstitutional elections in the West Bank.

China Welcomes Tehran Declaration

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Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Jiang Yu once more announced that Beijing welcomes Tehran Declaration on fuel swap.

According to IRNA, amid US-led attempts to gain support for new UN Security Council (UNSC) sanctions against Iran, China said diplomacy is the best way to resolve Tehran’s nuclear issue.

Jiang Yu expressed hope that IAEA and the involved sides will reach an appropriate resolve regarding Iran’s nuclear issue through dialogue.

This comes as US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said last week that the five permanent members of the UNSC -the US, Britain, France, Russia and China -plus Germany had reached agreement on a strong draft with the cooperation of Russia and China to impose sanctions against Iran.

Floods kill 115 in southern China

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BEIJING: A torrent of floods caused by heavy storms have killed 115 people in southern China, with 21 people still missing as weather reports show rains beginning to subside.

Emergency rescue teams have been dispatched across southern China to help the 685,000 people evacuated as a result of the flooding, which has caused £1.53 billion in damages, a statement on the Ministry of Civil Affairs website said.

But one official said the worst may be over.

“The rain was pretty severe earlier, but now the weather is improving,” said the official surnamed Chen who answered the phone at the Hunan Water Bureau information office. Like many Chinese officials he would give only his surname.

China’s rainy season, which began this month, follows the worst drought in a century for southern China’s Yunnan, Guizhou, Guangxi regions.

The drought affected 61 million people, leaving millions without drinking water and 12 million acres barren since last year.

The floods hit 13 provinces, including Guangdong, Sichuan and Zhejiang, and damaged more than 80,000 homes and affected more than 10 million people, said a statement posted on the State Flood Control and Disaster Relief Headquarters website.

China’s huge land mass means severe storms can cause floods in one region, while other parts of the country can experience drought.

Crisis of the American Occupation of Iraq Monday, May 24, 2010

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Holding important meeting between State of Law Coalition led by premier Nouri Al-Maleki and the National Alliance led by the Supreme Islamic Assembly as well as a meeting in the presence of Iraqi president Jalal Talebani and all parties except Al-Iraqiya list have had reflections in Iraqi and regional media.

Iraqi parliament speaker Ayad As-Sameraee heading a delegation had a trip to Kuwait last week.

Several car bombs in Iraq killed and injured more than 150 Iraqis.

The admissions by some detained members of Al-Qaeda terrorist group on Saudi’s meddling in Iraqi domestic affairs once again disclosed Riyadh hostility toward Baghdad government.

Baghdad governorship in a statement rejected news on building a security wall around the capital.

And the agreement on oil exports of Kurdistan area was approved by the Iraqi cabinet.

An important meeting last week was held between the leaders of Sate of Law Coalition and the National Alliance. The meeting was aimed at reaching a common viewpoint about choosing the candidate of Iraqi premiership post. Speeding up the job of sub-committees which have been formed by the two coalitions for choosing the candidate of premiership post was another motivation for holding such a significant meeting between the leaders of these two important coalitions.

Since a couple of weeks ago the two coalitions have announced their unity but they have not yet reached an agreement of Iraqi premiership post. According to Iraqi Constitution, the country’s biggest faction is responsible for introducing a candidate for premiership. The National Alliance has so far introduced several candidates. State of Law Coalition has introduced Maleki as Iraqi prime minister. At present, the members of leaders of State of Law and National Alliance are trying to reach an agreement on introducing a single candidate.

Concurrent with the meeting between the leaders of State of Law Coalition and the National Alliance, another meeting was also held in Baghdad in which all political groups’ leaders excluding Al-Iraqiya list lead by Ayad Allawi had attended. Iraqi president Jalal Talebani hosted the meeting which was aimed at reviewing the current Iraqi situation especially speeding up the trend of forming the new government. Jalal Talebani in the meeting said that he would support all Iraqi political groups and parties and enjoys a strong relation with all political currents. Since Ayad Allawai was in a trip, he could not take part in the Baghdad meeting. But Tariq Al-Hashemi, one of the leaders of Al-Iraqiya Coalition was present. He welcomed the meeting and stressed that direct talks would remove the obstacles toward shaping a new government in Iraq.

The admissions of the detained members of Al-Qaeda terrorist group once again proved that Saudi Arabia is meddling in Iraqi domestic affairs and has a role in Iraqi violence. The detained Al-Qaeda terrorists have admitted that the former Saudi ambassador to the US, and secretary of Saudi Arabia’s National Security Council, Prince Bandar bin Soltan had been linked to the Iraqi branch of Al-Qaeda.

Meanwhile, documents about interference of Saudi Arabia in Iraq’s domestic affairs had also been gained in the past.

It goes without saying that Saudi Arabia is discontent with the current situation in Iraq. Prior to legislative election in Iraq, Saudi Arabia in a move coordinated with the US, and through spending huge sums, tried its utmost to set the stage for presence of the ousted Ba’athists and secular groups at the highest Iraqi governmental posts. But, the post-election developments and coalition of the Iraqi National Alliance and the State of Law Alliance foiled all Saudi plots. Currently, a number of Saudi circles are intent on fanning the flames of violence in Iraq, and to equip terrorist groups, including Al-Qaeda, in Iraq in a bid to distort and sabotage the current atmosphere in this country and to postpone the formation of the Iraqi government, and to take advantage of this situation in favour of their illegitimate demands.

Meanwhile, the leaders of Shiite coalitions are determined to hold talks with all political groups, even Al-Iraqiya list led by Ayad Allawi. Reinforcement of national unity and further establishment of stability and security in Iraq are currently the priorities of the Shiite, Kurd, and Sunni currents in Iraq.

Last week, violence continued in some Iraqi cities. As a result of several car bombs in Baghdad, Falluja and Ba’quba, more than 150 Iraqis were killed or injured. The number of terrorist operations in different parts of Iraq has increased in recent days. This shows that one of the motivations of terrorists in Iraq is to influence Iraqi political atmosphere. At the same time, what is obvious is the US forces’ passivity, if not complicity in the chaos, as the main occupiers of Iraq. Although, at present the control of Iraqi security has been transferred to Iraqi security forces, according to Baghdad-Washington pact, the US is still present in the country. The US forces have not so far cooperated with Iraqi forces regarding security issues. Even the current documents show that the US circles are behind violence in Iraq. The United States has always been seeking to create a suitable situation for its long-term presence in the country. The violence can be a good pretext for the US forces to stay longer in Iraq. The US officials have declared many times that their withdrawal from Iraq depends on the country’s security conditions.

Letter from CDHRAP to Amnesty International on Discrimination Against Shias

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Regarding the human rights conditions in Saudi Arabia , the committee for the Defense of Human Rights in the Arabian Peninsula (CDHRAP) respectfully urges you to raise concerns about religious freedom and related human rights.                                                                                                                                   JNN( News Agency), The chair of the Committee for the Defense of Human Rights in the Arabian Peninsula Mr. Mohammad Abul Azeem al-Hussain sent a letter to the Amnesty International urging it to raise pressing concerns about religious freedom in Saudi Arabia and to press the Saudi Arabian authorities to release the religious prisoners in Saudi Arabia .

The complete text of the letter follows:

Dear Amnesty International ,

Regarding the human rights conditions in Saudi Arabia , the committee for the Defense of Human Rights in the Arabian Peninsula (CDHRAP) respectfully urges you to raise concerns about religious freedom and related human rights.

The Saudi government continued to commit abuses against members of the Shi’a minority.

Despite Saudi government claims undertaking some limited reform measures , the Saudi government marginalizes and systematically discriminates against the Shia community in the country through implementation the policy of discrimination , and persists in banning all forms of public religious expression other than that of the government’s own interpretation of one school of Sunni Islam and even interferes with private religious practice.

The members of the Shi’a Muslim community suffer systematic political, social, cultural as well as religious discrimination.

In this letter , I would like to draw your attention to three specific cases.

1- Munir Baqir Ebrahim Al-Jassas, 30 years , a Shi’a human rights defender in Awwamiyah of al-Qatif , was still held in solitary confinement for seven months the intelligence service in Al-Dammam .

Al-Mahbahith al-‘Amma (General Investigations) of al-Qatif summoned Munir Baqir Ebrahim Al-Jassas on November 7, 2009, and held him in solitary confinement under the charge of criticizing the ill-treatment of Saudi government against Shiites through his website “Tahara” .

Some members of al-Mahbahith al-‘Amma raided Al-Jassas’s house  and confiscated his personal possessions .

Al-Jassas has had no access to legal assistance following his arrest , and has not been kept informed of charges against him .

2-  The citizen (Reza Abdul Aziz al-Ghasham ) 23 years , from the town of al-Mobarraz in al-Ahsa , was detained on 8 June 2008 when some members of al-Mahbahith al-‘Amma raided his bookshop , arrested him under the charge of trading Shi’a religious books.

Saudi authorities called his wife and subjected her to a long investigation. His father Sheikh Abdul Aziz al-Ghasham (a prominent Shiite religious scholar , Imam al-Montazar mosque in al-mobarraz town of al-Ahsa ) visited him for one time , and saw the signs of torture on his son’s body.

His family was not informed of the reasons of his arrest , also was denied family visit.

3- The Government continued to detain nine of Shi’a citizens ( Hani Abdul Rahim al-Saygh , al-Qatif / Sihat ; Abdullah Ahmad al-Jarrash , al-Qatif  / al-Qala’a ; Hussain Moghayis , al-Qatif / al-Bahari ; Abdul Karim Hussein al-Nemer  ,  al-Dammam , al-Ahsa ; Sayyid Mostafa alQassab , al-Qatif  / Mayyas ; Sayyid Fadhel al-Alawi , al-Qatif / al-Jaroudiyah ; Mustafa Ja`far al-Mo`llim , al-Qatif / al-Jaroudiyah ; Ali al-Marhoon , al-Qatif / al-Jaroudiyah ; Salih Mahdi Ramadhan ,  al-Qatif /al-Jaroudiyah ) in al-Ha’ir prison over thirteen years . They have been arrested as suspects in the aftermath of the 1996 bombing of the U.S. military installation at al-Khobar bombing without charges or trial.

The Saudi authorities actions against the mentioned detainees infringe on internationally guaranteed rights of freedom of expression and religion . Universal Declaration of Human Rights protects the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion .

These actions breach also the Saudi Law of Criminal Procedure which its third Article stipulates that:

No penal punishment shall be imposed on any person except in connection with a forbidden and punishable act, whether under Shari’ah principles or under the statutory laws, and after he has been convicted pursuant to a final judgment rendered after a trial conducted in accordance with Shari’ah principles.

Also the Law of Interrogation Authority and Public Prosecution in Article 3 which says : Monitoring and inspection of prisons, detention centers and any places where criminal sentences are executed, as well as hearing complaints of prisoners and detainees, insuring the legality of their imprisonment or detention and the legality of their remaining in prison or the detention centers after the expiry of the period, taking necessary steps to release those imprisoned or detained without a legitimate cause and applying the law against those responsible for such action .

We urge you to press the Saudi Arabian authorities to release the remaining religious prisoners in Saudi Arabia on humanitarian grounds .

Pakistani Shia Ulema Under Attack; Pakistani Shia Ulema: Main target of Quetta bomb explosion was Shia scholar Allama Najfi

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* 7 children, 3 women among those injured
* Shia Ulema Council says main target was Shia scholar Allama Najfi             (JNN)News Agency , Quetta, Pakistan: Two people were killed and 15 others, including women and children were injured in a bomb blast at the Quetta Airport Road.

In a statement issued soon after the blast, the Shia Ulema Council said  that the main target was renowned Shia scholar Allama Najfi who remained unhurt.

Official sources said unidentified men had planted an explosive device in a rickshaw, which was parked on the main intersection of the Airport Road. Two people including the rickshaw driver and a passenger died on the spot and 15 others, including three women and seven children who were on their way to a wedding in a passenger van were injured.

Police officer Mohammad Riaz said that it was possible that the passenger in the rickshaw, who died in the blast, was carrying the bomb, which exploded prematurely.

The bodies of the two men who were killed in the blast, as well as the injured were taken to government Sandman Hospital Quetta. Hospital sources said that three of the injured children were in a critical condition. Police and Frontier Corps rushed to the site soon after the incident and cordoned off the area.

Obama Gov't. in Serious Mishap on BP Laxity

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As the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico continues to assume alarming proportions, US officials are trading barbs and criticizing each other for lack of efficiency to tackle the issues that has led to an environmental catastrophe.

Louisiana’s Governor Bobby Jindal blamed energy giant BP and the federal government for failing to act fast and swift enough to protect the state’s coastlines from a massive undersea oil leak. He said that the US Coast Guard and BP were slow to make decisions and delayed supplying necessary clean-up equipment even as oil washes onto the state’s fragile marshland. Jindal, whose words were echoed by a number of local officials, said he was frustrated by the slow pace, stressing that the delays were unacceptable. Oil from a blown-out BP well in the Gulf of Mexico has been gushing into the sea for over a month. Already, oil had tarred 65 miles of the Louisiana’s coast.

In fact the involved companies have shown nothing but laxity to impede the progress of oil into the marshlands; a phenomenon that puts maritime life in the jeopardy of annihilation. Experts on coastal issues including environmentalist and academics have serious doubts about the plans to contain the detrimental effects of the oil leak. The US government has warned in case that BP does not abide by its commitment it will cancel contract with this company. Oil giant BP has faced mounting pressure to control a massive oil slick in the Gulf of Mexico after the US government threatened to take over the response to the month-old disaster. US Secretary of the Interior, Ken Salazar, said that if the government finds that BP is not doing what it is supposed to do, it will be pushed out of the way. Salazar underlined that BP is legally responsible for dealing with a ruptured pipe that has been gushing oil into the gulf from the wreckage of an offshore rig. He lashed out at BP for missing deadline after deadline as its latest attempt to cap the environmentally devastating leak was hit with further delays. The BP-leased Deepwater Horizon rig exploded on April 20, killing 11 workers, and sank two days later. Ever since, hundreds of thousands of gallons of oil, if not millions, have been spewing each day into the sea. The government of Barack Obama is now under the pressure of the public that calls for putting an immediate end to this environmental catastrophe. Republicans, despite affinity with the oil circle, attacked Obama for not being able to handle the issue. Former vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin, who was governor of the oil-rich state of Alaska, accused Obama of being lax in his response to the disaster and suggested this was because he was too close to the lucrative offshore oil drilling industry.

Ahmadinejad: World in Need of Justice-based System

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Iran’s President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, in a meeting with new Serbian Ambassador to Tehran Alexander Tacik stressed on Sunday that the world is in need of a justice-based and humanitarian system.

According to IRNA, he said that the world is entering a new era, and that all systems, thoughts and notions of the last 60 years have practically come to the end of the road due to their wrong view about man and the world and due to their unjust manner.

Underlining Tehran and Belgrade’s significant role in the establishment of a new world order, President Ahmadinejad said Iran and Serbia can have constructive and useful cooperation with each other in establishing new world orders on the basis of justice and humanity.

Dr Ahmadinejad further pointed out the Iran and Serbia’s memberships in such international bodies and circles as the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) provides a proper ground for the consolidation of cooperation and coordination between the two countries in the international arena.

On the bilateral ties, the Iranian president said there is no impediment to the further expansion of Iran-Serbia ties, and called for bolstering cooperation between the two countries in different bilateral and international levels.

Tacik, who submitted a copy of his credentials to President Ahmadinejad, underlined Iran’s central role in regional and international developments, and said “Serbia is willing to promote its ties with Iran in all fields.”

Tehran Declaration an Opportunity for Interaction and Dialogue

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President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and Turkish Prime Minister Rajab Tayyeb Erdoghan, in a telephone conversation last night discussed the latest developments on the Tehran Declaration for nuclear fuel swap inked last week by Iran, Turkey and Brazil. According to IRIB, Dr Ahmadinejad hailed the Declaration as a new era in political and international equations that has created an excellent opportunity for moving toward interaction and dialogue for all parties involved. He stressed that in international interactions all countries should be able to use peaceful nuclear energy and nobody should have any atomic weapon. The Turkish prime minister, for his part, presented a report on his consultations and measures he had taken on the Tehran Declaration, stressing that Turkey will do its best to make it a good opportunity for the international community. The Islamic Republic of Iran has always sought a new atmosphere based on constructive cooperation and justice-based interactions in world equations through consultation and cooperation with friendly countries including Brazil and Turkey. The Tehran Declaration is a matter of importance due to the fact that it has created an opportunity for international cooperation within the framework of the rights of world nations. However, the US and its western accomplices have taken a hostile attitude toward the Tehran Declaration, in fact a stance diametrically opposed to the will and expectations of the world community. In other words, it is a shock in diplomacy as indicated by Iran’s Majlis Speaker Ali Larijani. The United States, the world’s most dangerously nuclear-armed power, is again trying to manipulate the UN Security Council to issue another set of illegal sanctions against Iran claiming that Tehran Declaration was not enough work to remove what it claims as ambiguities regarding Iran’s peaceful nuclear activities. US hypocrisy once more proved that Washington is trying to create an atmosphere of deception and fault-finding instead of respecting the will of the international community. In view of this, political observers believe that the Tehran Declaration has prepared a suitable ground for fuel swap that will provide necessary fuel for the Tehran University Medical Research Reactor in addition to opening a new chapter for interaction and consultations at the macro-politics level. Thus, Iran’s Majlis speaker has refuted any selective approach toward the Tehran Declaration and stressed support for the declaration only if all its articles were observed. He also made it clear that if opposite is the case, the Iranian parliament will reconsider the country’s goodwill stance regarding Iran-IAEA cooperation.

Saturday, 22 May 2010 15:16 IAEA Chief Supports Tehran Statement

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The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Chief, Yukiya Amano, has supported Tehran Statement regarding nuclear fuel swap.

According to Press TV, in a meeting with the Romanian Foreign Minister, Teodor Baconschi, the IAEA chief reassured that the joint statement of Iran, Brazil and Turkey will significantly help solve Iran’s nuclear issue.

Amano, in this meeting, emphasized that he is expecting to receive a letter about the practical details of Iran’s nuclear fuel exchange within the next week.

Iran announced on Friday that it intends to inform IAEA on the precise details of Tehran Statement.

Last Monday, Iran, Turkey, and Brazil signed a statement in Tehran, based on which Iran agreed with nuclear fuel exchange in Turkey’s soil, with due consideration of a few conditions.

Based on this statement, Iran delivers almost 1,200 kilograms of low-enriched uranium to Turkey in return for receipt of 120 kilograms of nuclear fuel needed by Tehran research reactor.

Tehran Statement has been highly welcomed by many countries, including Russia, China, and a number of figures such as UN chief.

UK to withdraw troops from Afghanistan

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JNN 22.05.10 In a U-turn in Britain’s policy regarding the Afghan war, senior government officials say they want UK soldiers to return home as soon as possible.
In an interview with The Times newspaper before arriving in Kabul on Saturday, Defense Secretary Liam Fox described the Afghan war as Britain’s most urgent priority.

He said no more troops will be deployed in Afghanistan, adding that he wants to speed up the withdrawal of UK soldiers and training of Afghan forces.

Fox emphasized that the new government in London will put national security issues on top of its priority list.

“National security is the focus now. We are not a global policeman. We are not in Afghanistan for the sake of the education policy in a broken 13th-century country. We are there so the people of Britain and our global interests are not threatened,” Fox said.

Britain is the second-largest contributor of troops to Afghanistan. It has deployed some 10,000 soldiers in the war-torn country.

The number of British soldiers killed in Afghanistan since 2001 stands at 286

OIC Summit Supports Tehran's Statement

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Iranian Foreign Minister, Manouchehr Mottaki said that the OIC foreign ministers have supported Tehran’s statement at the closing resolution of the OIC Foreign Ministerial Meeting.

According to IRNA, prior to his departure for Tehran, the Iranian foreign minister told reporters that the support of OIC secretary general and its members during this summit for Tehran’s statement regarding the nuclear fuel swap was significant and this issue shows Iran’s logical approach towards nuclear issues.

Mottaki also reiterated that Iran’s 12-point proposal to the OIC summit which included issues like confronting terrorism, peace, international security and sanctions, was also approved in the summit.

Further in his remarks, the Iranian foreign minister pointed to the decision to establish an Islamic human rights commission in the OIC and said that it Iran and Saudi Arabia are set to present the results of their bilateral talks over this summit to the next OIC Foreign Ministerial Meeting.

The 37th OIC foreign ministerial summit was opened in the Tajik capital, Dushanbe on 18th of May with the presence of 57 member delegates.

Top US intelligence official resigns

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Dennis Blair, the US Director of National Intelligence, has announced his resignation after frequent clashes with White House officials.

His resignation came as he was put under pressure from the White House, ending a tumultuous 16-month tenure marked by intelligence failures and spy agency turf wars.

In a message Thursday to his work force, Blair said his last day would be May 28.

“It is with deep regret that I informed the president today that I will step down as director of national intelligence,” Blair said.

The administration has been interviewing candidates for the job for several weeks now. The likely candidate to replace Mr. Blair is James R. Clapper Jar a retired Air Force lieutenant general and the Pentagon’s top intelligence official, the New York Times reported.

In addition to Clapper, other likely candidates to replace Blair include John Hamre, undersecretary of defense from 1993 to 1997; Chuck Hagel, a former senator who co-chairs Obama’s Intelligence Advisory Board; Michael Leiter, Director of the National Counterterrorism Center; and Lee Hamilton, co-chair of the September 11 Commission, Reuters reported.

In his 16-month tenure as the DNI, Blair had angered the White House several times.

He was widely criticized in the case of the failed Christmas Day bomber, Abdulmuttalab, in which the White House laid particular blame on the National Counterterrorism Center, an agency supervised by Mr. Blair.

A recent Senate report on this plot was also particularly critical of the NCTC’s failures to piece together the information that could have prevented Abdulmuttalab, a young Nigerian man who nearly detonated a bomb on a trans-Atlantic flight on Dec. 25, from boarding the plane.

Dennis Blair is the first high-ranking member of the Obama national security team to leave.

Obama's Anti-Iran Allegations

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The US president Barack Obama has claimed that Tehran statement is not sufficient for what he referred to as removing concern over Iran’s nuclear issue. In a phone conversation with the Turkish Premier Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Wednesday, Obama added that the US will continue its efforts to intensify sanctions against Iran.

Islamic Republic of Iran in a tripartite meeting in Tehran on Monday with Turkey and Brazil announced, within a statement, its agreement with the exchange of part of low-enriched uranium with the nuclear fuel needed by Tehran research reactor. Within the framework of this statement, Tehran will deliver 1,200 kilograms of 3.5% enriched uranium to Turkey, in return for receipt of 120 kilograms of 20% enriched fuel.

Tehran statement was widely welcomed which goes to show that this statement is a positive development that can soon be put into practice. But, the US is hell-bent on sabotaging this interaction through imposition of fresh sanctions against Iran.

Tehran statement is based on two important principles. Firstly, it emphasizes on Iran’s legal rights which are rooted in the contents of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. The Iranian nation and MPs’ demand is to maintain Iran’s legal and legitimate rights and the Iranian government will not retreat an iota from fulfillment of the inalienable rights of the Iranian nation.

The second principle in Tehran statement is attention to the logical views and proposals of other countries. Hence, Tehran statement can be assessed as another step in line with mutual confidence-building measures. Therefore, the other step for materialization of Tehran statement is for Vienna Group to prove its resolve and pragmatism.

Tehran statement, which has been signed by Iran, Turkey, and Brazil has a clear logic within the framework of the topic of fuel swap, and it obviously is not linked to Iran’s peaceful and legal nuclear activities, which the US has used as a pretext for presentation of another anti-Iran resolution. Hence, one should say US insistence in this regard is due to reasons other than the alleged concern over uranium enrichment in Iran. One of these other reasons is the US opposition to Iran’s scientific growth and development. Furthermore, the US also refrains from fulfilling its commitments which were made after the US joined the process of Geneva negotiations, within the framework of the agreement of Iran, International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), and Vienna Group. In fact, with implementation of Tehran statement, the US and other parties to Vienna Group will no longer have a pretext to justify their opposition to fulfillment of their commitments to IAEA for provision of the fuel needed by Tehran research reactor.

Iraqi National Alliance Emphasizes on Political Groups Agreement

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A member of the Iraqi National Alliance, Mohammad Mahdi Al-Bayati has considered agreement among political groups as the sole approach for resolution of disputes and establishment of the national unity government.

In an interview with Al-Alam Network on Thursday night, he added that the agenda of the future Iraqi government would be to learn a lesson from previous mistakes, resolution of problems and existing hurdles and challenges, the Iraqi administration faces.

He also referred to the efforts of the joint committees of the Iraqi National Alliance and the State of Law Alliance for introduction of the nominee for the future premiership post, while noting that in case these two alliances do not reach an agreement to this end the joint arbitration committee instated by these two alliances will introduce the new Iraqi premier, based on the majority of votes cast.

Pakistan blocks YouTube over blasphemous cartoons

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Pakistan has blocked the popular video sharing website YouTube in a bid to contain “blasphemous” material, officials are saying.

Pakistan has blocked the popular video sharing website YouTube in a bid to contain “blasphemous” material, officials are saying.

The blockade came hours after the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) directed internet service providers to stop access to social network Facebook indefinitely because of an online competition to draw the Prophet Mohammad.

Wahaj-us-Siraj, the CEO of Nayatel, an internet service provider, said PTA issued an order late on Wednesday seeking an “immediate” blockade of YouTube.

“It was a serious instruction as they wanted us to do it quickly and let them know after that,” he told Reuters.

YouTube was also blocked in the Muslim country in 2007 for about a year for what it called un-Islamic videos.

A PTA official, who declined to be identified, said the action was taken after the authority determined that some caricatures of the Prophet Mohammad were transferred from Facebook to YouTube.

Any representation of the Prophet Mohammad is deemed un-Islamic and blasphemous by Muslims.

'Protest against al-Quds plan on Friday'‎

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A Fatah official has called on Palestinians to attend Friday prayers en masse at the al-Bustan protest tent in the al-Quds (Jerusalem) neighborhood of Silwan to protest Israel’s “alternative city plan” for al-Quds.

Ahlul Bayt News Agency (ABNA.ir), A Fatah official has called on Palestinians to attend Friday prayers en masse at the al-Bustan protest tent in the al-Quds (Jerusalem) neighborhood of Silwan to protest Israel’s “alternative city plan” for al-Quds.

Hatem Abdul Qader, a Fatah official responsible for al-Quds affairs, said on Wednesday that the prayers and the presence of al-Quds people in the Silwan neighborhood will serve as a protest against Israel’s renewed threats to demolish at least 88 homes in the al-Bustan community in the Silwan neighborhood of East al-Quds, the Ma’an news agency reported.

On Monday, al-Bustan Defense Committee member Fakhri Abu Diab told local radio that they received a warning message on Sunday night from an Israeli municipality official in occupied al-Quds stating that the “al-Bustan neighborhood will be demolished soon.”

Israeli mayor of the area Nir Barakat already postponed two news conferences where he was expected to announce the demolitions, which would make way for an Israeli national park, displacing about 1,000 Palestinians.

Abu Diab said the Israeli official told him over the phone that the “decision was made” and “implementation will be at any time now,” citing June 15 as a start date for demolitions.

Abu Diab also urged all al-Quds residents to pray alongside the people of al-Bustan on Friday.

Karbala Seminar in Turkey

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An international seminar on the event of Karbala will begin today, May 20, in the city of Sivas in the Central Anatolia region of Turkey.

Ahlul Bayt News Agency (ABNA.ir), The seminar will discuss different aspects of the vent of Karbala and the lofty character of Imam Hussein (AS).

Seven Iranian scholars will be present at the four-day seminar which is organized by the Jumhuriat University. Scholars and writers from Turkey and other Islamic countries will also percolate at the event.

The Iranian Cultural Center in Turkey has announced that it is ready to contribute to the seminar, a move welcomed by the organizers.

The international seminar on the event of Karbala will conclude on Sunday, May 23.

Imam Hussein (AS) and his 72 faithful companions were martyred in Karbala on the day of Ashura in the year 61 after Hijra (680 A.D.)

Malaysia hosting World Islamic Economic Forum

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TEHRAN — The 6th World Islamic Economic Forum (WIEF) kicked off in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on Wednesday.

The 6th World Islamic Economic Forum (WIEF) kicked off in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on Wednesday.

Bearing the theme ‘Gearing for Economic Resurgence’, the three-day forum will look at the role of Islamic banking and finance in paving the way for a more stable global financial system.

The event has brought together some 2,000 participants comprising world leaders and members of the global business community to attend the Forum to discuss ideas and strategies on global issues affecting trade and business and to network with each other on cross border business opportunities.

The World Islamic Economic Forum is a global conference that acts as an international business platform where the business sectors of the Muslim world meet for business opportunities and together with the government leaders, act as a hub where policy proposals on economic development can be formulated.

Iranian Finance and Economic Affairs Minister Seyyed Shamseddin Hosseini, heading a delegation, has attended the forum, the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting reported

Westerners should change their views about Muslims

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John L. Esposito is one of America’s leading authorities on Islam. Now, in this brilliant portrait of Islam today– and tomorrow– he draws on a lifetime of thought and research to provide an accurate, richly nuanced, and revelatory account of the fastest growing religion in the world.

According to Ahlul Bayt (A) News Agency – ABNA.ir – John L. Esposito is one of America’s leading authorities on Islam. Now, in this brilliant portrait of Islam today– and tomorrow– he draws on a lifetime of thought and research to provide an accurate, richly nuanced, and revelatory account of the fastest growing religion in the world.

Here Esposito explores the major questions and issues that face Islam in the 21st century and that will deeply affect global politics: Is Islam compatible with modern notions of democracy, rule of law, gender equality, and human rights? How representative and widespread is Islamic fundamentalism and the threat of global terrorism? Can Muslim minority communities be loyal citizens in America and Europe? The book also turns the mirror on the US and Europe, revealing how we appear to Muslims.

Recent decades have brought extraordinary changes in the Muslim world, and in addressing these issues, Esposito paints a complex picture of Islam in all its diversity-a picture of urgent importance as we face the challenges of the coming century.

John L. Esposito is University Professor of Religion and International Affairs at Georgetown University and Founding Director of the Prince Alwaleed Bin-Talal Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding. He is the editor of The Oxford Encyclopedia of Modern Islam and The Oxford History of Islam, and author ofUnholy War, What Everyone Needs to Know about Islam, and many other acclaimed works.

Azerbaijan Stops Demolishing of Shia Masjids After Warning of Shia Leaders

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The problem with Fatimeyi Zahra Mosque has been solved, Caucasus Muslims Organization (CMO) head said.

The construction of “Fatimeyi-Zehra” mosque will be completed, spokesperson for the Caucasian Muslims Office Rahima Dadashova told reporters.

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has ruled that the Fatimeyi-Zahra Mosque on the outskirts of Baku will be subordinated to the country’s leading religious authority, RFE/RL’s Azerbaijani Service reports.

Aliyev’s ruling on May 14 means control of the mosque will go to the Muslim Spiritual Board of the Caucasus, preventing its demolition.

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev signed an order to transfer the mosque to the Caucasus Muslims Organization (CMO).

Caucasus Muslims Organization (CMO) head, Sheikh-ul-Islam Allahshukur Pashazade appealed to Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev concerning Fatimeyi Zahra Mosque, Caucasus Muslims Organization press-service said.

The decision to pull down the Fatimeyi Zahra Mosque , located in settlement 33 of Yeni Gunashli in the Surakhani district, was made by Local Economic Court on the basis of the claim of Surakhani District Executive Power.

Caucasus Muslims Organization makes every effort to preserve the relationship between religion and state, Pashazade said.

On May 12, Iranian Shia cleric, Grand Ayatollah Makarem Shirazi threatened to issue a fatwa against Azerbaijani officials if the mosque was destroyed. The “Ahlul Bayt News Agency (ABNA.ir)” quoted him as saying that a warning had been sent to the Azerbaijani leadership.

Also Ayatollah Zeyn-ol Abeddin Ghorbani, the Friday prayer Imam of Rasht province and representative of Imam Khamenei in Gilan – Iran, severely condemned the act of demolishing Shia Mosque and in address to Azerbaijan’s president Ilham Aliyev, he announced: “I am sending you an ultimatum, you may appear in the ash heap of history, like Mohammad Reza Shah and Saddam Husein.”

Great Shia personality; Grand Ayatollah Sayed Muhammad Mufti al-Shia Moosavi Expires + pic

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Ahlul Bayt News Agency (ABNA.ir), HOLY CITY OF QOM, Iran: Ayatollah Al-Uzma Syed Muhammad Mufti al-Shia Moosavi Ardbaili passed away on Wednesday in holy City of Qum in Iran. He was 82. The late Ayatollah was considered amongst the famous religious teachers and he authored dozens of religious books and translated hundreds of books.

There will be closed holiday in religious Madaris during these days. A statement issued from the headquarters of the Maktab-e-Tashih says that Ayatollah Mufti Al-Shia Urdbaili spent all his life in serving the religion. The gap created by his demise could not be filled.

His funeral ceremony will be start today (20.5.2010) at 17:30 from Imam Hasan Askari (as) mosque to holy shrine of Hadrat Masumah (sa).

Memoir of Ayatullah Mufti Ash-Shia Al-Mousavi

Translated by Ghulam Shabbir on the direction of Allama Syed Hussain Muqqadasi

In the name of Allah the merciful, the beneficent

Praise be to Allah who created pure and perfect man in between knowledge and those who possess knowledge, by his generosity regarded scholars the end of hope of hopeful person & on the basis of his justice preferred the pen of one who knows and acts accordingly to the blood of martyrs and termed them as blessings to all of his creatures. He bestowed preference to the memory of those who served for Shariat to the memory of nameless people and gave them all such things, which non-else has ever been given.

I bear witness that Allah is one and there is no partner unto Him; nor is there any god except him.

No doubt Muhammad (PBUH&HP) is His servant and His prophet corroborated by Rooh-al Quds and Aql-e-Kul; one who was the most gentle & consummate man, took pity on all weaklings, poors, indigents, orphans and all other destitutes.

Knowledge is one of such things as has been applauded and appreciated in Islam and Muslims have been urged to attain it. Quran bears many verses in this regard, which stress upon the importance of knowledge, its attainment and applause of scholars.

The creator of universe ordered for deliberation, and prudence, and has eulogized the man of understanding (olulalbab) and not only this but only those who are possessed of knowledge are said to be God-fearing.

As is stated:

“Those of His servants only who are possessed of knowledge fear Allah”

Surah xxxv/xxviii (The originator)

“Say, Are those who know and those who do not know alike? Only the men of understanding are mindful” (The companies/ix, Surah/xxxix)

Likewise several hadiths from Holy prophet (PBUH&HP) and His vicegerents Aaimma Masoomeen (A.S.) have been reported.

Hazrat Imam Jafar Sadiq (A.S.) quotes Holy Prophet (PBUH):

“A learned has such preeminence on adorer as the full moon on fourteenth has on all the stars and no doubt the scholars are heirs of prophets.”

All these hadiths state the significance of knowledge, the dignity and degree of scholars, subordination to them, the patronage of scholars in proclaiming the laws of religion, their being trustee of Allah, the angels spreading wings for them, birds in the sky & fish in water craving mercy for them. Even Imam (A.S) regards scholars as his assistants and attorneys.

He (A.S) states further:

“Among the fuqaha (theologians) one who guards himself against sensuality, concupiscence, refrains from least and greed, is amendable to Lord’s orders; people must follow such theologian.”

Likewise Maktab-i-Ahlebait (school of prophet’s descendants) has never been without the teacher and the student even for a single day. Right from the early days of Islam to this day it has extended the best service to Islam. The conspicuous proof is the emergence of four thousand scholars in various fields of knowledge from the great school of Hazrat Iama Jafar Sadiq (A.S).

The branch of knowledge which has been the most stressed upon and for which people have been urged to attain is Fiqh (Islamic jurisprudence) because in it lies the system and order of this world and the benefit of the world hereafter; as it is the law of Shariat (the divine law) and he who acts upon it is successful both here and hereafter.

Maktab-i-Ahlebait is particular in that there has always been opportunity for Ijtihad i.e. interpretation and reinterpretation of Islamic laws. That is why in every era there emerged unprecedented scholars, the most pious men of the time, ulema and fuqaha (theologians).

This booklet comprises of brief biography of Hazrat Ayatullah al Uzma As-Syed Muhammad Mufti Ash-Shia, Al-Mousavi (Dama Zilluhul Aali) and his family. Further, about his teachers, his own teaching services rendered in Hawza and his general welfare works have been mentioned. May Allah’s graciousness be always with us to write more, in future, on various other aspects of his great personality (Aameen)

Brief Biography

His Good Name

Muhammad-bin-Muhammad Taqi bin Murtaza bin Naqad Ali bin Mir Ali Raza bin Hussain Al-Mousavi. He was born on 10th of Rajab-ul-Murajab 1347 A.H. in Ardbail (known as Dar-ul-Irshad) – a city of Iran.

Ayatullah al Uzma As-Syed Muhammad Taqi Mufti Ash-Shia Ardbaili was his father who died in 1361 A.H. He was considered one of much followed theologians. He was also leader of his city. His Risala-i-Amalia (journal) was published on 18th of Zilhajj 1336 A.H under the title of “Shajara-tut-Taqwa”. The second journal “Zakhirat-ul-Uqba” was published in 1344 A.H. he had been the pupil of Akhund Khurasani, Syed Kazim Yazdi, and Syed Muhammad Isfahani Fasharki.

His Grandfather

His grandfather’s name was Ayatullah al Uzma Syed Murtaza Khalkhali Ardabaili. He too was one of the venerable Maraje Uzzam. On his return from Najaf-i-Ashraf, he laid the foundation of great Hawza-i-Ilmia in Ardbail, which produced several Ulmas. Students, not only from Iran, but also from various other countries like Badkoba, Sherwan, Siliyan, Ierwan, Nakhchwan, Lankran, and Aazarbaijan came to this Hawza to seek knowledge. He was the pupil of Sahib-i-Karamaat and Sheikh Ansari (R.A). He left this world on 1317 A.H.

His respected Uncle

His uncle, Faqih-i-kamil Syed Ahmed Mujtahid, the pupil of Sheikh Hassan Mamqani and Fazil Sharbiani, was one of those precedent theologians who saved their city against the wickedness of enemies.

His second uncle, Syed Musa Faqih Murtazavi who was great worshipper and a pious man, had the degree of Ijtihad (interpretation and reinterpretation of Islamic laws) from great maraje like Ayatullah al Uzma Syed Abu Al-Hassan Isfahani, Muhaqqiq (researcher) Naeeni and Muhaqqiq Iraqi.

His respect worthy mother

She was the daughter of Syed-ul-Ulama As-Syed Baqir Al-Ardbaili Al-Najafi who was awarded ijaza-i-ijtihad (Permission for interpretation and reinterpretation of Islamic laws) by Syed-ul-Ulama great Marje As-shaikh Muhammad Taqi Ash-sherazi in 1335 A.H. He was son of Ayatullah Syed Habib Ullah Al-Athari Ardbaili who was the grandson of Mujtahid-i-Akbar Syed Hussain and nephew of Muhaqqiq Karki al-Aamli. He was Shaikh-ul-Islam in the regime of Sultan Tahmasab Safawi in Ardbail.

His Progeny

The sustainer of the world bestowed him seven sons. Three of them are scholars:

1.Hujjatul-Islam Aaqai Syed Muhammad Taqi (R.A)

2. Hujjatul-Islam Aaqai Al-Haj Syed Muhammad Zaki (R.A)

3. Siqa-tul-Islam Syed Abul Fazl (R.A)

His pedigree

His lineage reaches to Syed Ibrahim Al-Asghar surnamed Al-Murtaza the son of Imam-I-Hamam Musa bin Jafar (A.S) who has been talked about in the books of genealogies.

His dynasty

His family is one of those the most ancient and learned families whose members reside in cities like Najaf-i-Ashraf, Tehran, Ardbail, Khalkhal, Qazween & Rasht. This family has always been exerting for the attainment of knowledge & wisdom. There have been several theologians, scholars, authors & poets in this noble family who have been leading the masses as a prelate (Mujtahid) in their spiritual and worldly problems. This is why the pages of the books of tazkira and rijal are full of their excellence learning & compositions.

His conduct & attentions

In 1361 A.H, on the day of Hazrat Imam Muhammad Taqi (A.S)’s martyrdom, his father departed in Ardbail, who left the whole city in affliction and people arranged Majalis-i-Aaza for forty days and on 40th day much honoured & preferred Ayatullah al uzma Syed Younis Ardbaili attired him the spiritual apparel with his own hands and put Amamah (a religious turban) on his head after which he left for Mash’had Al-Muqqadas.

In 1363 A.H, he performed the duties of imamat in his father’s mosque (which is known as Masjid-i-Bazar & masjid Syed Ahmed) on the consent of his worthy uncle Syed Musa faqih. Although he was quite young yet people used to participate in his Jamat (gathering for prayer) with pleasure and zeal, for his amiable nature and belonging to praise worthy dynasty and the mosque used to fill with Namazis to its full capacity. Not only this but very often people used to take his ablution water as a benediction and solicited him for Dua (prayer); he was of the rank of his ancestors in religious affairs.

He was known for his continence, abstinence & decency in his family and the city where as among the learned (ulama) and the seekers he was famous for the mode of equity and man of wisdom.

Acquisition of knowledge

He showed quick, sharp and brimful mind in the acquisition of knowledge. He got his education of ‘Moqaddemaat’ from distinctive ulmas (teachers) of Ardbail and his father’s pupils. He learnt ‘Rassail’ from Ayatullah Shaikh Ghulam Hussain Gharvi and ‘Makasib’ from his worthy uncle Ayatullah Syed Musa Faqih Murtazavi.

Left for Qum

In 1367 A.H, he left for Hawza-i-ilmia Qum for further education. For Dars-i-Kharij in Fiqh (Islamic jurisprudence) he joined the lectures of Ayatullah al uzma Brojurdi who was delivering his lectures on Salat (prayer) in those days.

For discussion on ‘Baye’ (buying & selling) he took lessons from Ayatullah al uzma Syed Muhammad Hujjat. He participated in the class of Ayatullah al uzma Roohullah al-Musawi Al Khomeini (R.A) for discussion on principles of Fiqh (Islamic jurisprudence). Debate on Taharat (cleanliness) was learnt in the classes of Ayatullah al uzma Syed Muhammad Muhaqqiq Damad (R.A). To have an insight in the enigmas of philosophy, haiyyat & tafseer he attended the bountiful lectures of Allama Syed Muhammad Hussain Tabatabai (R.A), along with this he himself delivered lectures on high level on “Rasa’il”, “Kifaya”, “Makasib” & “Manzooma”.

In summer vacations when he came back in his own country, he used to guide the people & helped them in their religious problems. He was also used to perform Imamat in his ancestral mosque.

Migrated to Najaf-i-Ashraf

Zeal for the acquisition of knowledge did not end and his thirsty nature for knowledge and cognizance led him leave for Najaf-i-Ashraf in 1374 A.H. and he attended the lectures of following chosen, excellent highly esteemed ulamas (scholars) and Maraje Uzzam:

1.Marjae Aaliqadar Ayatullah al uzma Syed Mohsin Hakim (R.A)

2. Marjae Aaliqadar Ayatullah al uzma Syed Mohammad Shahroudi (R.A)

3. Marjae Aaliqadar Ayatullah al uzma Syed Abul Qasim Khoie (R.A)

For quite a long period he attended the lectures of Ayatullah al uzma Sheikh Hussain Hilli (R.A) on Asool (principles) & Fiqh (Islamic jurisprudence) and he sought maximum learning from him. For more than ten years he remained under his guidance and kept on writing his lessons till the day when he was talked of one of the keen pupils of Sheikh Hussain Hilli (R.A). He has compiled a complete lesson of esteemed teacher on Asool (principle)& urwah (path).

In 1388 A.H, after performing Hajj and taking leave of Ayatullah al uzma Sheikh Hussain Hilli (R.A), he started teaching Fiqh & Asool. At the same time he began research and composition.

Back in his country

A delegation of venerable personnels reached in Najaf-i-Ashraf Ardbail in 1379 A.H and requested Marjae Aaliqadar Ayatullah al Uzma Syed Mohsin Hakim to send Aaqae Mufti ush Shia as his attorney to explain divine code of life to the people in Ardbail. Hence, in view of their constraints and requisition Ayatullah al Uzma Hakim (R.A) sent him to Ardbail. However, he never wished that Mufti ush shia should ever leave Najaf-i-Ashraf. Aaqae Mufti ush shia left Najaf-i-Ashraf for Ardbail on 16th of Zeeqaadh 1379 A.H. and arrived on 24th Zilhajj.

As soon as the people came to know of his advent, particularly great ulamas and khutbaas (preachers) they came out at a distance of twelve Farsakh (Miles) to welcome him and gave him a magnificent reception.

In 1380 A.H., when Marjae Aalam-i-Tashayyo Ayatullah al Uzma Brojurdi departed for the world hereafter, people of Aazarbaijan under the guidance of Aaqae Mufti ush shia started to follow Ayatullah al Uzma Syed Mohsin Hakim (R.A) and they always turned to him in all their problems and masail-i-shariat.

After his one and half year stay in Aardbail he went again to Najaf-i-Ashraf to restart his learning activities.

Compositions

He has all the speeches delivered on Asool & Fiqh, which he wrote while attending the lectures of his teachers in Najaf-i-Ashraf and Qum. The detail is as under:

In Hawza-i-Ilmia Qum

The book on bae (Buying & selling) by Hazrat Ayatullah al Uzma Syed Muhammad Hujjat (R.A).

The book on Salat (prayer) by Hazrat Ayatullah al Uzma Syed Agha Hussain Brojurdi (R.A).

The book on Taharat (cleanliness) by Hazrat Ayatullah al Uzma Syed Muhaqqiq Damad (R.A).

He wrote “Mabahis-i-Ilfaz”& discussion on “La jabar wala tafweez bal amar bain al amrain” in Dars-i-Asool by Hazrat Ayatullah al Uzma Syed Roohullah Al-Mousavi Al-Khomeini (R.A).

In Dars-i-Manzooma & Asfar by his great teacher Allama Taba Tabaie (R.A) he wrote his theories as marginal notes in his books.

Hawza-i-Ilmia Najaf-i-Ashraf

“Salat ul Musafir wal Jama’ah” & some important things about Hajj by Hazrat Ayatullah al Uzma Syed Mehmood Shahroodi (R.A).

A complete composition of Asool-i-Fiqh by Hazrat Ayatullah al Uzma Syed Abul Qasim khoie (R.A)

A complete composition of Asool-i-Fiqh by Hazrat Ayatullah al Uzma Sheikh Hussain Hilli (R.A) and “Bae-o-Khiyaraat” in Fiqh, “Taharat” a discussion of urwat-ul-wusqa

A tract on “La Zarar wala Zaraar”

Sharah Kifayah

A treatise on doubted apparel

A Pamphlet about “Ilm-i-ljmali” (Brief knowledge)

Qaida “Iqrar-o-Raza’a” and several other magazines on important discussions along with summaries in a book titled “Fiqh-i-Mabsoot”

This is an argumentative book in which important things of Fiqh have been discussed in the light of Qawaid-i-Asoolia, Quranic verses, sayings of Masumeen (A.S) & Asool-i-Amlia. He also wrote on “Ilm-i-Ikhlaq” & “Ilm-i-Nafs”. He also wrote marginal notes on “Asfar” & several other books.

His Risala-i-Amlia – “Towzeehul Masa’il & Masa’il-i-Mustahaddisa”, Minhaj-us-saleheen” are in two volumes. He wrote valuable books on “ Manasik-i-Hajj” and “marginal note on Urwah”.

His status among scholars

He obtained ljaza-i-ijtehad (license for interpretation and reinterpretation of Islamic laws) & ljaza-i-Riwayat (to narrate) from great Ulamas, Mashaikhs and Mujtahideen. The writing of these ijazas is evidence of his abilities. He is known as mark of equity, abstinence, research & keen observation. This small treatise does not allow me to quote all such statements but only as a specimen one line from the letter of Ayatullah al uzma Syed Mehmood Shahroudi (R.A) is mentioned here which he wrote on 26th Zeeqaad 1390 A.H when he was leaving for Iran:

“I deem him quite essential in Najaf-i-Ashraf in all possibilities as Hawza-i-Ilmia needs him and others like him.”

Social services

He has played an important role for the welfare of the deprived & wretched people of society and showed bountiful magnanimity in building Institutions for public good, schools & mosques. Similarly he permitted some Momineen for the disbursement of obligations of revealed law (wajoobat-i-shariah) in the interest of the destitute & the poor.

His morals

He has good morals, is tender hearted, has almost all virtues and is like his proceeding ulamas in “Ser-o-Salook”. His majlis (sittings) are never without Zikr-i-Khuda”, “Rawayat”, “Hadith-i-Ahl-i-bait (A.S) Fiqh Masa’il & Asool.

He is quite unprecedented in treating the destitute with attention and ceremony, in knowledge, clemency virtue, piety & veracity.

In his conversation and “Masa’il-i-Shariah” he speaks with depth of thought and constancy.

Deported from Najaf-i-Ashraf

In 1396 A.H. Iraqi authorities adopted the policy of deportation of hundreds of intrepid of Imam-i-Zamana (A.S) from Hawza-i-Ilmia Najaf – the then centre of ulams and Mujtahideen-i-Shia & Maadan-i-uloom-i-Aal-i-Muhammad (A.S). They issued orders of expulsion of the teachers and the students of Iran, India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Turkey & other countries, and this order was issued so that the enemies of Haq-o-Imamat i.e. Allah and Imam may express pleasure on the annihilation of auspicious Hawza Najaf-i-Ashraf – the pride of Shia & Muslim Ummah.

Hence, the government started arresting people. Aaqae Mufti Ush Shia (R.A) was also arrested. First along with many others, he was in (Khan An Nisf) prison, which is midway from Karbala to Najaf. Then, all alone, he was confined in a small cell. There after shifted in the prison of Najaf-i-Ashraf. Later, the agents brought him home and ordered to leave the country within two hours.

Hence, with his family he proceeded to Iran, and stayed in adjacency of Bargah-i-Hazrat Masooma (A.S) to start teaching, writing and solving the problems of the people.

He was made principal attorney of the head of Hawza-i-Ayatullah al uzma Hazrat Syed Abdul Aala Sabzwari (R.A) in connection with the selection of attorneys and representatives in Islamic countries after the death of Ayatullah al uzma Khoie (R.A). He was also consulted in important matters. This is, conspicuous demonstration on his abilities and trust.

Ayatullah al uzma Sabzwari (R.A) remembers him in these words:

Moassesa Imam Muhammad Taqi (AS)

US forced American Muslim into exile

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An American Muslim civil rights group has charged the US government of forcing an American citizen into exile because of his faith.

According to Press TV, the Washington-based Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) has called on the US Department of Justice to look into the matter.

CAIR said 29-year old Raymond Earl Knaeble IV, has been placed on a no-fly list and has been unable to return home from Colombia since March.

According to CAIR, Knaeble this week flew to Mexico in hope of traveling to the Mexican-US border, but he instead faced lengthy interrogation by Mexican officials before being sent back to Colombia.

The group says it is illegal for a US citizen to be denied entry to his own country while he is not charged with any crime and such actions undermine the US Constitution.

Iran, Brazil, Turkey Agreement Widely Reflected by Global Media

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The reports on Tehran statement about the nuclear fuel exchange that was signed on Monday by the foreign ministers of Islamic Republic of Iran, Brazil, and Turkey, has topped the news released by regional and international media.

This statement refers to the agreement of the said three countries for transference of low-enriched uranium of Iran to Turkey and its swap with the 20% enriched uranium in order to provide the fuel needed by Tehran research reactor.

The US-based daily Christian Science Monitor, in a report, studied the statement released by Iran, Turkey, and Brazil, while noting that this statement and presence of new players in this scene such as Turkey and Brazil points to start of a new era in international relations, while the permanent members of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) can no longer expect growing powers such as Turkey and Brazil to remain silent toward international topics of importance. Moreover, the US-based paper Los Angeles Times has said Tehran will send part of its nuclear material to Turkey for receipt of the nuclear fuel. This paper added that currently the US officials are faced with two options: they can reject this agreement, and/or accept it and possibly allow Iran to foil the growing international pressures. Furthermore, the American daily Wall Street Journal considers this measure by Tehran to be in line with the efforts to fend off more intensified sanctions against the Islamic Republic of Iran. Elsewhere, the American paper Washington Post has said Tehran’s measure for delivery of Iran’s low-enriched uranium to Turkey can dispel international disputes regarding Iran’s nuclear issue.

Meanwhile, the London-based paper Times referred to the statement on nuclear fuel swap and said this agreement with the aim of resolution of international disputes regarding Iran’s nuclear issue was achieved while a new wave of sanctions will soon be discussed at UNSC.

BBC TV Network, in a report, referred to unfounded allegations of the US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who had predicted that Iran’s negotiations with Brazil and Turkey would fail, while announcing that the reports released about the recent agreement goes to show US Secretary of State’s wrong and groundless prediction about these talks.

Meanwhile, the Zionist daily Haartz, in a report on the joint statement of Iran, Turkey, and Brazil about nuclear fuel swap, admitted that with this measure, Iran foiled US efforts for intensification of sanctions against Tehran.

The Zionist regime’s premier, Benjamin Netanyahu has called on his Cabinet members not to comment about Iran’s nuclear agreement.

The muted reaction of Western officials and media goes to show the inaction and disillusionment of a few states in how to deal with Tehran-Ankara-Brasilia agreement on fuel exchange. This measure by Tehran has taken place with the aim of further confidence-building and for exit from the current situation. Now, it is Western parties’ turn to take a positive step and to prove their good will.

Iran hails Brazil role in N-deal

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Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast says Brazil and Turkey have played a “key role” in the recent breakthrough in a nuclear fuel swap deal.

On Monday, Iran agreed to a draft proposal whereby the country will send some 1200 kg of its 3.5-percent enriched uranium over to Turkey in exchange for 120 kg of 20- percent enriched uranium.

In an exclusive interview with Press TV only an hour after the meeting proved to be a success, Mehmanparast said Iran had intensified negotiations with Brazil and Turkey in the past few days in order to revive a draft proposal, which was initially dismissed by Tehran due to a lack of enough guarantees.

Mehmanparast said efforts by the two countries to mediate in the standoff have given Iran “the guarantees it needs” to proceed with the shipment of its low-enriched uranium.

He said that Iran will officially notify the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) of the details of the deal “within the coming week”.

The spokesman said that the recent breakthrough shows “Iran has always intended to enrich uranium for peaceful scientific purposes, not the development of nuclear weapons”.

Mehmanparast also hoped that the deal would address concerns of some countries and help them change their “confrontational approach”.

The Iranian official, however, warned that if Western countries step out of line and violate Tehran’s trust in the course of the swap, the fuel will be immediately returned to the country.

Leader urges Muslim unity against Israel

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Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei (R) in a meeting with Senegalese President Abdoulaye Wade, Tehran, May 16, 2010.

Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei has called for unity among Islamic countries against Israeli atrocities in Palestinian lands.

“The Zionists, who are supported by America, should be put under political and economic pressure,” Ayatollah Khamenei said in a meeting with visiting Senegalese President Abdoulaye Wade.

The Leader said Senegal, which now holds the rotating presidency of the Organization of Islamic Conference, should focus on the Palestinian issue.

Ayatollah Khamenei also met with Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa, who is in Tehran to attend a summit of the Group of 15.

The Leader hailed Sri Lanka’s support for the rights of Palestinians, saying no free country should ignore the Israeli crimes committed against the Palestinian nation

Hakim, Hashimi discuss coalition gov't Sun, 16 May 2010 09:16:28 GMT

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Iraq’s vice president has talked with the head of one of the country’s top political parties about a national consensus for the formation of a government.

Vice President Tariq al-Hashimi discussed the latest developments in Iraq’s political landscape with the head of the Iraqi National Alliance (INA), Ammar al-Hakim on Saturday.

They reviewed the role of all political parties in the formation of a coalition government following the closely-contested March 7 parliamentary elections in which the al-Iraqiya Alliance, headed by Iyad Allawi, led his Rule of Law coalition by a narrow margin.

Hashimi and Hakim agreed that all sectors of Iraqi society should be represented in the new government.

This comes after Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki of the Islamic Dawa Party entered into an agreement with the INA to create a new parliamentary bloc, a move, which took place after no single group managed to win a majority in the March elections.

Iraqi leaders have made an effort to reach an agreement on the formation of a coalition government after the latest polls failed to determine the future government in the country.

Leader urges anti-totalitarianism front

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Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei has said cooperation between independent governments can be a countermeasure against global totalitarianism.

“The only way to change the oppressive relations in the world today is through the formation of closer ties between independent states,” the Leader declared on Sunday.

“Superpowers have defined vertical relations in the world which places a superpower at the top. These relations must be changed and their change is possible,” Ayatollah Khamenei said.

The remarks were made in a meeting with visiting Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on the eve of the G15 summit in Tehran. The meeting was also attended by Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

The US and Russia have billed Lula’s visit as Iran’s “last chance” at avoiding a fourth round of tougher UN sanctions over its nuclear program.

In an allusion to the US ultimatum, Ayatollah Khamenei said Washington is unhappy to see the expansion of cooperation between independent states and their influential role in world affairs.

“One blatant example of this is the commotion created by US over your visit to Iran. It is because they are opposed to such relations,” the Leader told Lula, who is in Tehran to work with Iranian official on a possible nuclear fuel swap deal that would render the US-pursued sanctions unnecessary.

Lula reiterated his support for the Islamic Republic’s right to pursue technological progress and said bilateral ties could help turn Tehran and Brasilia into political and economic poles.

“Brazil believes Iran has every right to defend its independence and seek progress and development,” highlighted Lula, whose country is a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council (UNSC).

Another non-permanent UNSC member, Turkey, has also signaled readiness to enter trilateral talks on finding a diplomatic solution to the nuclear standoff.

Washington and its European allies have accused Iran of harboring a covert military nuclear program and are pushing to pass a US-drafted sanctions resolution.

Iran has repeatedly rejected the accusations, arguing that as a member of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and a signatory to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) it has the right to a civilian nuclear program aimed at electricity generation and medical research.

Sheikh Yousuf al-Qaradawi; Prominent Sunni Islamic scholar Issue FATWA to Jihad Against Israel and Boycott Israel / US Products

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Prominent Sunni Islamic scholar Sheikh Yousuf al-Qaradawi has urged the Arab countries to be united for launching a jihad against Israel and back the Palestinian resistance movement by providing them with the needed weapons and money as well as by boycotting both Israel and the US.
Ahlul Bayt News Agency , In his Friday sermon, Sheikh Qaradawi described the 62nd anniversary of what he called the “state of the Zionist enemy” as “a painful experience that is unforgettable”.

“Tomorrow Israel will complete 62 years of its existence. This is the anniversary of the 1948 Nakba (catastrophe) which Muslims and Arabs should never forget. Some people do not even know that 62 years ago Israel had not even existed. There were only a few thousand Jews in Palestine then,” he told a congregation at the Omar bin Al Khattab mosque.

“Nothing has happened since the peace process has been launched. It is just a fairytale and consists of useless efforts. Some of us are still begging for peace from Israel. Resistance should continue and should be supported by all of us since our battle with Israel has military, political, religious, cultural and economic aspects that should be considered,” Qaradawi added.

The scholar urged the Arab countries to back the Palestinian resistance movement by providing them with the needed weapons and money as well as by boycotting both Israel and the US.

“I call upon all the Arab countries and Palestinians factions to be united for launching a jihad against Israel,” he added.

He lamented the steps taken by some Arab states to normalise ties with Israel. After decades of the Arabs’ rejection of Israel, some of them had agreed to have diplomatic ties with the Jewish state while others had opted for secret relationship, he said.

“For decades we have been educated that Israel is just a claimed entity and that it should be wiped off the map. But the situation has become different now,” he added.

“Palestine should not be forgotten by our nations. It is a duty on all of us to support the Palestinians in their fight against the Zionist enemy. Only through resistance we will be able to retain our rights,” he maintained.

About the 62nd anniversary of the creation of Israel and expulsion of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians, the scholar said that the Palestinian refugees, who were displaced by Israel during 1948 war, were under the impression that they would return soon to their homes.

“Some of them kept their house keys believing they will only leave the place for a month or two. They did not imagine that their displacement would continue for 62 years,” he added.

News In Detail Mastung: Two more Shia Muslims martyred

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SFP News
14th May 2010

It was about 10 AM when two Shia Muslims named Abdul Samad Lehri and Babu Hassan Shaikh Alizai were martyred on DCO Road in Mastung District of Baluchistan. The both victims were converted to Shia while their family members belong to Sunni Sect.

It was not just killing but killers raised slogans against Shiite and both victims were buried without any coffin, ablution (Ghusil) and Namaz-e-Janaza. It was a bitter human rights violation but media and so called human right institutes are unvoiced. Law enforcement agencies are silent spectators. Because of the silence of local authorities terrorists are encouraged.

The situation shows that district and provincial government is on the back of terrorists who are killing innocent Shia Muslims. The stripe of Shia killings is openly continued in Baluchistan province since 2003. So many sectarian terrorist are released in Past regime and its also continue. In this situation no body can expect for justice, that’s very alaraming situtaiton for the safety and security of our beloved homeland Pakistan.

Mastung is very safe place of Taliban terrorists in Baluchistan. In this area terrorists are free to shoot any body. In the same area of Mastung one Shia Teacher Abdul Qadir was also martyred just 9 days ago on 5th May 2010, while he was coming back from Post Office. In past, Shia Muslims have bore so much violence and terrorism. The history of Shaheed Abdul Khaliq Bangalzai is still unforgettable, when a decade ago he was brutally murdered, his home was burned and property was captured.

Saudi Wahhabis: We Torture and Kill Every One Who Help and Support Shia Muslms

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Jafaria News Agency , Human rights defender Mr Munir Baqir Ebrahim Al-Jassas, aged 30, remains in detention in Saudi Arabia having been arrested on 7 November 2009 by the Saudi Wahhabis’ intelligence service in Al-Dammam, in eastern Saudi Arabia.

Further Information

Munir Baqir Ebrahim Al-Jassas has been an advocate for Shia minority rights since February 2009. He is the general supervisor for the “Tahara” on-line discussion forum and regularly posted articles and comments on other web forums on the same issue. Despite more than five months in prison, no official charges have been pressed against him.

Two months prior to his arrest, Munir Baqir Ebrahim Al-Jassas was summoned by the Al-Dammam intelligence service and reportedly ordered to write a pledge to stop his internet posts criticising the government’s treatment of the Shia minority.

His posts urged peaceful action to support his fellow Shias, especially following incidents in February 2009, when Saudi religious police attacked Shia pilgrims in Medina, and in March 2009, when they arrested peaceful Shia solidarity protesters in ‘Awwamiyya in the Eastern Province.

On 7 March 2009, Munir Baqir Ebrahim Al-Jassas wrote about the “need to continue peaceful and correct media mobilization… to release the prisoners as soon as possible”.

On 7 November 2009, agents of the intelligence service arrested Munir Baqir Ebrahim Al-Jassas and raided his house, without showing any search warrant, confiscating two laptops, a hard-disk and a digital camera, in the presence of his wife, who is ill, and their two small children.

Munir Baqir Ebrahim Al-Jassas was held in solitary confinement for four months at the detention centre of the intelligence service in Al-Dammam. His wife was allowed to visit him two months after his arrest, but only so that she could obtain his written consent for her to undergo an urgent medical procedure, in accordance with Saudi Arabia’s guardianship system.

She was allowed to visit him again two months later, shortly after he had been moved to a group cell with other inmates. He told her that his arrest was a result of his internet posts defending the rights of the Shia minority In Saudi Arabia.

Front Line believes that the arbitrary arrest and continued detention without charge of Munir Baqir Ebrahim Al-Jassas is directly linked to his legitimate and peaceful work in defence of human rights, particularly the rights of Shia minority in Saudi Arabia.

Indian Shia Religious Leaders: Hindu terrorist organizations should be banned

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Ahlul Bayt News Agency , Lucknow: Muslim scholars and clerics have demanded a ban on the Hindu organizations, against which there are sufficient evidences for their involvement in the terrorist activities.

While grieving about the fact that the government has let off the Hindu organization on the issue of terrorism, they claimed that the Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI), an Islamic student’s organization, was banned only on the grounds of suspicion.

A Shia cleric and a member of the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) Moulana Kalbe Jawwad lamented that it was the weakness of the Muslim organizations who couldn’t force the government to lift the ban on SIMI. People still question about SIMI, even after it has been banned only on the basis of suspicion, but the government zipped their mouths about the Hindu organizations whose involvement in the terrorist activities can be proved with enough evidences that are already available.

Other clerics, including principal of Nadwatul Ulema Maulana Dr. Saidur Rahman Azmi Nadvi and Deputy Imam of Idgah Aishbagh Maulana Khalid Rashid Firangi mahali, also expressed resentment of the community over letting off the Hindu organizations by the government on the issue of terrorism.

Meanwhile, the clerics appreciated the decision of the Mumbai court for awarding death penalty to Ajmal Amir Kasab for his involvement in the 26/11 Mumbai attack. The Shia clerics, however, questioned about why several other ‘Kasabs’ involved in the killings of innocent people were roaming free in the country. ”Kasab is a ‘kasai’ (butcher) by profession and has committed the crime as per his family tradition, but what will happen about the ‘political’ butchers in the country,” he asked.

Moulana Khalid Rashid Firangi mahali called upon the Muslims to unite and fight for their own cause. ”The Ranganath Mishra report had also suggested that Muslims could get their dues only if they unite and fight,” he said.

He further notified that Muslims are hardly holding 3 per cent government jobs in the present, while they had 30 per cent of the government jobs earlier.

Christian author introduces Imam Hussein (AS) from spiritual point of view

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Ahlul Bayt News Agency , The Christian author of “Hussein in Christian Ideology” said that he introduced Imam Hussein (AS) from a spiritual point of view in his book.

“Unlike Orientalists who concern themselves with the historical and material aspects of the life of Imam Hussein (AS), I introduce him from a Christian point of view,” Antoine Bara mentioned in a review session of his book at the 23rd Tehran International Book Fair on Sunday.

Kuwait-based Syrian writer Bara has been invited by the International Publishing Company of the Islamic Ideology Dissemination Organization (IIDO) to participate at the fair.

The company released the Persian translation of his book by Gholam-Hossein Ansari in Iran last winter.

“I wrote the book when I was an inexperienced author and journalist, but decided to reflect on such a noble character with lofty spiritual concepts,” he mentioned.

“This is the first time that I have traveled to Iran. I never imagined that one day I would be introducing the book right here in this country”, he mentioned.

He went on to say that he is surprised by the number of visitors and he has found Iranians to be people who are fond of reading books.

At the ceremony, Ansari, the translator of the book, said that the book made use of authentic Shia and Sunni sources.

“I added footnotes to some parts of the book which were not based on Islamic concepts and beliefs,” Ansari mentioned.

The author is currently compiling a three-volume book about Hazrat Zeinab (sister of Imam Hussein) and the role she played in keeping alive the movement.

International conference of “Palestine from Imam Khomeini and Imam Khamenei’s point of view” will be held in Greece.

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According to Ahlul Bayt (A) News Agency – This conference will be held in June 2010 by the attempt of Iranian Cultural Center in Athena.

The conference will be held by cooperation of Iranian and Greek friendship club, Greek and Iranian friendship club and Athena University for one day, with participation of guests from countries such as U.S, Palestine, Iran and Greece in Athena University.

OIC head says Israel aim non-existence of Palestinians in Jerusalem ; All Muslims have an obligation to save their Muslim brothers and sisters living in Jerusalem, Ihsanoglu said.

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Secretary General of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu said Monday Israel was trying to end Palestinians’ existence in Jerusalem.

Speaking at the inauguration of the Second Expanded Meeting of the Executive Committee of the Parliamentary Union of the OIC-member states (PUOICM), Ihsanoglu said that Israel was implementing a secret plan in Jerusalem and gaining international advantage.

The issues of Palestine and Jerusalem are of concern to the whole Islamic community. Palestine is going through terrible days like never before, Ihsanoglu said.

Jerusalem happens to be under danger. Jerusalem is under Israeli occupation like never before. The identity of people living in Jerusalem is being changed with political and demographic measures, Ihsanoglu said.

Palestinians are left without education, health, residences, economic and social security services and Israel is in violation of international laws. Israel uses to its advantage the lack of interest the international community has on Jerusalem, Ihsanoglu said.

By placing Israelis into residences owned by the Palestinians, subjecting Palestinians to high taxes and ending Palestinians’ right to construct their own residences, Israel is trying to end the existence of Palestinians in Jerusalem, Ihsanoglu said.

All Muslims have a responsibility regarding Jerusalem. All Muslims have an obligation to save their Muslim brothers and sisters living in Jerusalem, Ihsanoglu also said.

Qaradawi warns European countries for Hijab ban

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Qatar-based Islamic scholar Sheikh Yousuf al-Qaradawi urged those European countries which are considering outlawing the full veil (niqab) to review their plans, saying that a wider ban on niqab might prompt clerics to campaign for imposing a “modest dress code” on foreigners living in Muslim countries.                                                                                                                                          In his Friday sermon, Sheikh Qaradawi said the recent outlawing of the face-covering veil in public by Belgium along with a French draft law to make it illegal would be a violation of both religious and personal freedoms.

“I hope that France, Belgium and all of Europe will show respect to Islamic values and creed. Banning a Muslim woman from wearing the niqab would only place her in a dilemma about whether to comply with the law or obey what she believes is a religious order,” Sheikh Qaradawi told a congregation at a mosque at Khalifa South town.

I am totally against banning a Muslim from wearing niqab if she is convinced of it as a religious obligation,” he explained.

Quoting from a letter he had sent to former French president Jacques Chirac, the scholar said the ban imposed on hijab in schools would be a betrayal of the principles of the French Revolution, namely liberty, fraternity and equality.

“I told (president Chirac) that prohibiting women from wearing the hijab would be discrimination against them and make them hate France which is known to be a leading country for freedom,” he added.

In his letter, he had also dismissed the notion that hijab was a religious symbol for Muslims as “untrue”, saying that if it was a symbol, why they were allowed to take it off when they were in the presence of other women or male relatives.

“Wearing hijab for Muslims could not be dealt with as wearing a necklace with a cross pendant for Christians,” he said.

“When Muslims ruled India, they did not close down temples or impose a ban on cremation. It is the duty of each nation to respect the values of the other, but with the European case, we can make it difficult for French and Belgian women who stay in Muslim countries by asking them to stick to a modest dress,” he quoted from the conversation he had with the French ambassador to Qatar.